Business Services

Selecting the correct structure for running your business is the first step. Our firm has been assisting companies and individuals with this decision since 1984. Generally, the liability protection is the foremost concern when choosing a business entity. However, we will analyze the projected tax savings versus the compliance cost of choosing the type of organization that best fits your needs. If any legal concerns arise we will help you get in contact with one of our trusted local law firms.

Most business types fall under the following categories: Sole Proprietorship Corporate Entity, Limited Liability Companies, Partnership, and Joint Venture. We also handle Estates, Trusts, and Not-for-profit ventures.

Below is a breakdown of each business type and the respective tax reporting information

Sole Proprietor

Business, usually unincorporated, owned and controlled exclusively by one person. Such a business is commonly designated a “sole proprietorship”. This type of organization does not offer liability protection. However, the structure is easy to start and has a low cost to maintain.

Corporate Entity

The distinct status of a corporation which sets its existence apart from the individual status of its shareholders is its capacity to have a name of its own, to sue and be sued in its own name as well as the right to buy, sell, lease and mortgage property in its own name. This artificial person or legal entity created by or under the authority of the laws of generally a state is composed of one or more shareholders.

Limited Liability Companies

A limited liability company, an LLC, is a hybrid between a partnership and a corporation. Like partnerships and corporations, the limited liability company has a separate legal entity from its members. Traditionally, an LLC does not live indefinitely. Standard articles of organization must specify on which date the LLC’s existence will terminate. However, many states now allow an LLC to have a perpetual existence. This is a relatively new type of business organization in that they have gained more accepted use in the last ten years. The problem is that all other things are quite often not equal. The laws, taxation policies, reporting requirements and other applicable factors in a particular state may well outweigh the inherent advantage of the LLC and dictate incorporating instead, rather than forming an LLC. There is an operating agreement with this type of organization.

Partnership

This is a voluntary contract between two or more competent persons to place their money, effects, labor and skill, or some or all of them. This type of structure generally does not provide for a liability protection and has essentially been replaced with the LLC’s.

Joint Venture

A legal entity in that the nature of the partnership is engaged in the joint prosecution of a particular project for profit. Unlike a partnership, a joint venture does not entail a continuing relationship among parties once the project is complete.

Estates

A term commonly used to denote the sum total of all type so property owned by a person at a particular time for the benefit of the beneficiaries.

TAX REPORTING : Form 706//1041

Trusts

A right of property, real or personal, held by one party for the benefit of another or others.

TAX REPORTING : Form 1041/Form 5500

Not For Profits

Non-Profit Corporations and Home Owners Associations operate with no income benefiting its’ members, directors or officers. Non-profit entities and Home Owners Associations operate for the sole benefit of a qualified organization. A non-profit organization may be exempt from federal income tax, but is still required to file tax returns.